Methods and means for the transportation of goods

ABSTRACT

Transportation units for goods are prepared by placing the goods between pressure distributing means in the form of end plates with lateral displacement resistance means, concentrated load or shear distributing resisting means, or shear resisting means positioned at suitable intervals along the length of the unit, and the unit is then made to act as a prestressed beam or prestressed structural unit by applying pressure to the pressure distributing means by the use of tendons maintained under tension in use.

United States Patent 1451 Mar. 28, 1972 Sikkema 1541 METHODS AND MEANSFOR THE 496,042 4/1893 Dederick ..53/24 x TRANSPORTATION ()F GQODS715,802 12/1902 Holmes ..206/83.5 X 2,896,207 7/1959 Wilson ..53/24 X 1lnvemofl Esme Sikkema, Auckland, New Zealand 3,282,415 11/1966 Buffeta1. ..206/83.5

[73] Assignee: New Zealand Inventions Development Au'homy wellington NewZealand Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney-Holman 8L Stern [22]Filed: Oct. 10, 1969 21 Appl. No.2 865,421 [57] ABSTRACT Transportationunits for goods are prepared by placing the goods between pressuredistributing means in the form of end [30] Foreign Apphcafion PnorityDam plates with lateral displacement resistance means concen- Oct. 15,1968 New Zealand ..154l27 trated load or shear distributing resistingmeans, or shear resisting means positioned at suitable intervals alongthe length [52] US. Cl. ..53/24, 53/124 D of the unit, and the unit isthen made to act as a prestressed [51 Int. Cl .1365!) 13/20 beam orprestressed structural unit by applying pressure to the [58] Field ofSearch ..53/24, 124 D; 100/3; 206/835 pressure distributing means by theuse of tendons maintained under tension in use. (56] References Cited 5Claims, 33 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 457,634 8/1891 Dederick..206/83.5

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7 FIG. 31 67 1A/V8M70R E 223 0-502) @WM A fro/a vs vs METHODS AND MEANSFOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS This invention relates to methods andmeans for the transportation of goods.

There is considerable interest today in what is known ascontainerization. With present apparatus for containerization, however,the general aim is simply to provide a large fixed size packing case ofpermanent construction, which has transporting facilities associatedtherewith.

Such containers must be of at least sufficient strength to support theirown weight, the weight of the goods and superimposed loadings, andtransfer these loadings to supports or lifting points.

To keep the goods themselves within the confines of the container, thegoods depend generally on being held together and on to the deck bygravity as well as requiring restraint from the sides of the container.In consequence, containers themselves tend to be bulky even in acollapsed condition. Space use, stowing and unloading are not alwaysefficient and often additional means have to be provided to preventundesirable load movement of goods inside the container. Very often aflexible load division is desirable, but although some containers can becoupled as modules or sections into a larger load, in practice economicspreclude or severely limit the scope of this.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide methodsand or means of the transportation of goods which will obviate orminimize the foregoing disadvantages in a simple yet effective manner,or which will at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consistin a method of preparing goods, in the form of discrete articles orpackages, for transportation, said method comprising the steps ofassembling a plurality of discrete articles or packages between a pairof pressure distributing means to form a transporting unit, the discretearticles or packages being associated with lateral displacementresisting means adapted to resist displacement of the discrete articlesor packages from their relative positions in planes parallel to thepressure distributing means and connecting the pressure distributingmeans to each other by a tendon or tendons and applying and maintainingtension by use of the tendon or tendons to pull the pressuredistributing means towards each other so as to apply and distributepressure over the goods so that the goods are precompressed by thepressure, so that the combination of apparatus and goods will behave andact as a prestressed beam or a prestressed structural unit with thesubstantial bulk of the goods remaining under compression, and with thetendons remaining under tension so as to remain structurally anddimensionally stable in normal use and at least within a normal range oflevels and positions of the combination.

In a further aspect, the invention consists in transporting apparatusfor discrete articles or packages of goods to form a transporting unitcomprising a pair of pressure distributing means adapted to transmitpressure to goods placed between them, longitudinal tendons or a tendonadapted to apply tension to said pressure distributing means to causesaid pressure to and over the goods placed between them and lateraldisplacement resisting means adapted to resist displacement on saiddiscrete articles or packages from their relative positions in planesparallel to said pressure distributing means, the construction andarrangement being such that on said apparatus being loaded with goods toform a combination of apparatus and goods the goods are precompressed bysaid pressure so that the combination will act as a prestressed beam orprestressed structural unit with the goods remaining under compressionand said tendons or tendon remaining under tension so as to remainstructurally and dimensionally stable in normal use and at least withina normal range of levels and positions of the combination.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawing in which FIG. I is a side view of atransporting unit of apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a collapsed view of the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of four units according to FIGS 1, 2 and 3,coupled as modules into a larger transporting unit.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a divisable unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the tendon arrangement for the unit shown in FIG.5. 7

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrams showing manners in which the unit in FIG. 5may be divided.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show storage or loading systems.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic sketch of discrete articles incorporatingdisplacement resistant means.

FIG. 13 shows alternative forms of such means.

FIG. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views of lateral displacement resistingmeans or shear distributing means.

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatical side elevation of a transporting unitincorporating stirrup means.

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a transporting unit fortransporting free-flowing materials.

FIG. 18 is a perspective sketch of a comer hook means.

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic perspective sketch of a further lateraldisplacement resisting means or shear distributing means.

FIGS. 20 to 30 are diagrams illustrating various combinations ofpressure distributing means, lateral displacement resisting means andconcentrated load or shear distributing means and tendon means.

FIG. 31 is a diagrammatic side view of a transporting unit includinginternal tendons.

FIG. 32 is a diagrammatic part cross section of a ship having mounted init transporting units according to the invention.

FIG. 33 is a side elevation of a transporting unit using containers aspressure distributing means.

Referring to the drawings, apparatus for use in transporting goods inthe form of discrete articles or packages is constructed as follows:

Pressure distributing means in the form of end members 1 are providedthrough which pressure may be applied to goods placed between such endmembers.

The end members may comprise frames having sheet material thereon, thesheet material being supported so as to remain in substantially the sameplane when pressure is applied to the goods.

Thus the basic end members may each be constructed as a flat plate withor without reinforcing ribs or rims in a variety of materials (steel,aluminum, timber, fiberglass or the like). Its inside face may be flush,with or without indentable linings (e.g., rubber) of high friction orinterference surface treatments.

Or alternatively it may have interference or locating ridges, locatingprotrusions or spigots, recesses, rims or a grid with wire mesh, toughfabrics or simply an open grid that locates on the load.

A pressure distributing means may also be simply a frame, grid or bandsacting in a composite way with the first layer of articles or packages,arranged so that together they perform the function of applying thedesired stress distribution onto the main payload.

The grid distributing the anchor reactions and the first layer of goodsmay be tied, stressed, coupled or the like to form in conjunction withthe grid a rigid structural diaphragm or panel, e. g., fiat tins orcontainers.

A stress plate may also consist of a composite construction, e.g., ametal frame, skeleton, grid with timber or the like decking withproperties as above.

To facilitate stress distribution in applications where the end of thepayload does not present a flush surface in a single plane, or does notconform to the surface of the end plate, packing blocks or adjustablepads may be superimposed on the stress plates inside surface to take upthe voids and insure conformity to the required stress distribution.Such a plate may have an adjusting arrangement on the frame to adjustlocal stress, like screwed plates, pads or the like. Such auxiliarycomponents may become permanent fixtures to the stress plates surface.Where differences are minor, spring loaded or otherwise self-adjustingdevices may be used. Alternatively, self-adjusting cushioning pads(rubber or the like) may be applied to the frames surface equalizinglocal pressures.

The pressure distributing means may furthermore consist of otherarrangements insuring rigidity such as larger containers, boxes or binsthemselves as seen in FIG. 33 in which two boxes or containers 70 aretied by draped tendons 71 held by tendon directing means 72 about aprestressed load 73 the containers 70 being cantilevered beyond supports74.

The containers 70 may be merely boxes or in turn may be prestressedtransport units according to the invention and one container 70 may becombined with an end member 1 if desired. Stress frames may be motorizedor may be part of a truck or other rigid surface.

The pressure distributing means are always combined with lateraldisplacement resisting means and when used as supports or suspensionpoints or with draping tendons, they combine with concentrated load orshear resisting means.

The frames may carry castor wheels 2 and screw jacks 3 having feet 4, oralternatively wheels may be provided as shown in FIG. 3 referenced 5.Means to prevent lateral displacement of the articles or packages in thelateral direction are provided in the form of a series of membranes oraprons 6 which may be suspended from a suspension cord or other flexiblemember 7.

The membranes or aprons may be flexible or rigid, provided with orwithout rims. Where a draped tendon arrangement 41 is adopted a solidshear apron 8 with tendon location fixtures may be used as aconcentrated load and shear stress distributing means.

A continuous external tendon, parts of which are indicated in elevationat 9 and 10 is arranged around the unit and in the example, these arearranged to pull the end members 1 towards each other and to producecentral stressing and then anchored or locked (with draped tendonssystem 41, the tendon also supplies an upward component of force whichlifts the load directly).

The tendon may be tensioned by any suitable means, for example, byhaving the ends thereof threaded so as to pass through holes in the endmembers or brackets associated therewith or turn buckles may be providedor separate tensioning means may be used to draw the end memberstogether, the tendons being then held either by a locking device,selfgripping or nonretum device, or a clamp arrangement or by providingthe end of the tendon with a length of chain which may be locked withlocking plates behind the links. Holes 11 are provided in the crossmember, through which pins 12 may be inserted, whereby further unit 13may be fixed end on as shown dotted in FIG. 1. When empty the end frames1 may be moved towards each other as shown in FIG. 3 with the tendon asshown in 9 and 10 folded and with the aprons 6 suspended adjacent toeach other so that the empty unit takes up little space. The empty unitsmay be further coupled to others to form packs to form transportingunits themselves (as dotted FIG. 3).

In FIG. 4 four units 14 are shown coupled as modules end to end as wellas side by side to form a larger single transporting unit, the modulesso constructed and stressed to perform as a separate transporting unitor as part of a larger beam or unit.

The coupling fixtures may also be used however to simply link the unitstogether for stable stacking arrangements.

Referring to FIG. 5 a divisable unit is shown comprising two portions15, in the illustrated sample separated by double split boards 16. Thetendons 17, FIG. 6 are provided with connecting links 18 which may bebroken, and where split boards are used the hooks 19 engage with eyes onthe appropriate split board 16 as shown in FIG. 6, the tendon system ofa continuous external type is tensioned as a whole by the nut 20 beingengaged on a screw spindle 21.

Such systems may after stress release be divided to form boxescomprising two mobile sections, by jack-knifing the released unit bymeans of a ram 22 between the split boards 16 as shown in FIG. 7, or byplacing and releasing the unit on end in the form box as shown at 23 inFIG. 8 and pivoting the upper portion on a fulcrum 24 as shown by thearrow 25.

FIG. 9 shows a suspension system in which the aprons or membranes 6 aresuspended from flexible members 26, from a structure 27 or 28 and thusthe specially adapted aprons or membranes 6 may be used as shelves forstorage in the place of a storage rack, or the membranes or apron 6 mayhave the articles or packages placed thereon for loading before the endframes are tensioned.

Loading may be effected in several different ways and for example asshown in FIG. 10 empty units 28 may be fed along monorail 29 until aloading station is reached in which the unit is stretched out to itsfull length in a load former with expandable sides and bottom 30 andgoods or articles may be fed through a feeding chute 31 to pass into thespaces 32 between aprons 6, each space 32 being filled before either thechute or the space is moved to fill the next empty space. Alternatively,spaces may be filled simultaneously. After this has occurred stressingat the end frames can take place and the monorail then continues tostorage rails and/or ultimately to a truck loading bay as shown in FIG.11 where two coupled units or one unit consisting of two modules aresuspended over a space beneath which a truck or trailer tray 23 may bearranged and the driver may release a stop mechanism 34 and afterhooking a hook 35 to the front units and releasing the unit the truck ortrailer may then move forward taking the unit with it. Because themonorail 36 slopes downward and may also have an extra drop section 37the weight of the units is transferred to the truck tray which may thendrive off without the driver having to leave his cab as even a despatchdocket could be placed in a bracket 38 for extraction by the driver. Thedriver could also operate a hook 39 by remote control to engage and holdin position the rear end of the rear unit 40. Many other loading andunloading systems may of course be devised.

It will be appreciated that the general effect of the invention is toprovide a prestressed beam or prestressed structural unit of goods orbulk material supported on at least two bases or suspended by at leastone or two suspension points. Such a beam would have to resist or copewith the effects of general bending, shearing, concentrated loads orstresses as well as tendencies for lateral displacement of the goods ordiscrete or packages within a normal range of levels and positions ofthe unit.

Transportation units of discrete articles do not possess tensileproperties as such but once precompressed to certain values compressioncan be reduced or varied, while a degree of compression aided or unaidedprovides slip or shear resistance between adjoining articles in thedirection of compression.

In consequence, with lateral displacement resisting means provided, aprestressed beam or unit of discrete articles or packages can behavestructurally in a substantially homogeneous manner and in conjunctionwith concentrated load and shear distributing means variousconstructions of transporting units can be devised.

Bending causes stress patterns in a particular cross section of a beamwith a compressive component and a tensile component at opposing sidesof the neutral axis of a unit, while shear stresses increase towards thesupports. In devising a particular unit, the aim of the technique is tominimize, counteract or distribute the effects of bending and shearstresses, to create opposing stress patterns or at least maintain anadequate degree of compression in the substantial bulk of the goods tomaintain shear resistance and general cohesion in the unit and to allowthe unit to behave in a substantially homogeneous manner within the safecompression stress values and shear factors of the goods or bulkmaterials.

In an end supported beam for example, subjected to its own weight, amaximum bending moment is experienced in the middle of the span,producing maximum tensile action at the bottom and maximum compressivestress at the top of the beam. If the resultant of prestressing forcesis applied centrally to the neutral axis of the unit through thepressure distributing means, to a value neutralizing the tensile actionencountered this could double the maximum compressive stress already inthe unit (above the neutral axis). If this is undesirable, the prestressresultant could be applied eccentrically, e.g., below the neutral axisof the pressure distributing means and the unit, producing through thepressure distributing means a counter moment at the ends or an opposingstress pattern throughout the aggregate, requiring less total prestressand less maximum total compressive stress on the goods, whileneutralizing tensile action.

However, if applied with eccentricity exceeding one sixth of the depthof the unit, assuming an oblong or square cross section, the constantprestressed pattern would itself develop a tensile tendency at the top,which would result in the center cross section, not only in theneutralizing of tensile tendencies or action at the bottom, but anactual reduction of the compressive bending stresses at the top.

At the end of the beam however, this pattern would fail to producecompression at the top end of the load, which generally would beundesirable and against the principle of avoiding absence ofcompression.

One manner in which the various difficulties may be met is for thetendons to be draped as shown in an exemplary manner by the tendons 41shown in FIG. 1, utilizing tendon location means associated with aconcentrated load or shear stress distribution means 42 at suitableintervals to give the desired drape to the tendons. Such draped tendonarrangements would tend to pull the load up in the center, counteractingthe bending moments applied by selfweight, while also reducing shearstresses in the goods close to supports.

By this method, sag or deflection or dimensional stability generally canbe controlled in the larger units or even reversed to an extentrequired, and the unit could be made to hog up if desired. By moving oneor preferably both supports in from the end, with the aid ofconcentrated load or shear distributing means, the effects of theloadings and bending can be balanced and distributed and the maximumbending moment due to self weight or applied weight may be considerablyreduced and with for example supports about 20 percent in from the ends,the bending moments over the supports and in the center areapproximately equal, but acting in opposite directions and would be onlyabout percent of those in the simply supported cases. Assuming adequateshear resistance in the latter case, prestressing can now be reducedalmost proportionately if central stressing is adopted, but with drapingthe tendons at the ends and in the middle both compression values andshear stresses can be reduced further still and deflections minimized,eliminated or reversed.

A prestressed beam or unit of discrete articles subject to conditionspreviously described may also consist of sections or modules which maybe transporting units in their own right produced by the method, but maybe mechanically coupled or stressed together as modules at theirpressure distributing means to form a larger sectional structure or loadas exemplifled by FIG. 4. The modules and components are designed towithstand such loadings as will be met in separate use as well as in useas sections in the larger composite transporting unit. Any of theplurality or pressure distributing means of the modules in such acomposite load or structure may be designed to act for example asconcentrated load or shear distributing means (support or suspensionmeans). Preferred methods would be whereby the modules are coupled endto end, side to side, coupled vertically or a combination of any or allof these.

In the case of units with supports in from the end several units mayalso be coupled or stressed however at the concentrated load or sheardistributing means to form a larger transporting unit.

Shear resistance between compressed faces of discrete articles orpackages and/or other surfaces may be increased generally by means ofincreasing the friction co-efficient or interference factor betweentheir areas or points of contact or providing more positive locating orkeying means between them such as incorporating interlockingarrangements, rims or the like or the insertion of linking means betweenthem such as spokes, pins, couplings, serrated materials, indentationwires or keying devices which can embed or key themselves in thecompressed surfaces of the goods.

In the case of certain bulk materials such as bulk wool continuouslateral stirrups associated with internal longitudinal tendons willassist shear resistance. Where discrete articles or packages in atransporting unit are discontinuous in lateral planes, preferred lateraldisplacement resisting means may consist of means creating or simulatinglateral continuity of the goods over a cross section, preferably andsubstantially by the aid of compression in the unit. Preferred means maycomprise discrete intemal fixtures, tying or anchoring laterallyadjacent goods together (e.g., tying and strapping or hooking) whilesuch fixtures or goods may also or in addition be interconnectedthemselves by common means. Alternatively, shear resisting meanspreviously referred to, depending substantially on compression for theirefiectiveness may be laterally connected or be substantially continuousover a lateral cross section such as flexible or rigid membranes,diaphragms or aprons 6 referred to with or without external rims orother continuous or semicontinuous inserted means. The latterarrangements connect both laterally and in the direction of compression.

Laterally continuous goods or goods arranged to behave laterallycontinuous may themselves act as diaphragms, membranes or lateraldisplacement resisting means generally, to axially adjacent goods in thetransporting unit.

Lateral displacement resisting means such as membranes or the like maybe incorporated as integral parts in the transporting apparatus (FIG. 1)or be separate parts.

Alternatively, lateral continuity may be simulated by interlocking oroverlapping of goods in some applications but with other constructionsit is preferable to provide displacement resisting means which areassociated with the individual articles or packages. Thus for examplereferring to FIGS. 12 and 13, discrete articles 43 such as boxes, bagsor cartons are provided with flaps 44 and 45 which flaps may be repeatedfrom other edges from the discrete article. The flaps 44 and 45 areshown overlying other discrete articles 46 and of course the pattern isrepeated as desired, either with the flaps in horizontal plane as shownin FIG. 12 or in the vertical plane or in any plane or combination ofplanes as desired. The flaps 44 and 45 may for example be of hessian orother suitable material, but could also comprise flexible members, e.g.,round members 47 or strips or other flexible members and may for examplehave enlarged portions 48 on the ends of single members 49 rather thanthe loops 47.

In some constructions, lateral displacement resisting means can beprovided by stirrups 50 and 51 (FIGS. 14 and 15) having either hooks,pins, protrusions, ridges or locating fixtures or membrane sheets inconjunction with the tendons. For example in high density bulk wool,lateral expansion can be resisted by lateral stirrups at intervals alongthe span and around an internal tendon arrangement or hooked thereto.

Tendons may be arranged outside the load in conjunction with stirrups torestrain lateral displacement or expansion of the goods. For example asshown in FIG. 16 a unit of short logs or carcasses 52 would expandlaterally under pressure in at least one plane unless the externaltendons 53 arranged on the expanding sides of the units are restrainedby stirrups54 at intervals along the span having rings 55 through whichthe tendons 53 pass.

Preferably such stirrups maintaining such restraining tension could beof a resilient nature maintaining a prestressing effect in lateralplanes.

In the case of free flowing materials or the like-a construction shownin FIG. 17 may be used in which a sheath or tube 54 is divided atintervals by membranes 55 the membranes resisting lateral displacementand the construction in. effect comprising a series of separate packages56 joined to each other at the edges. The parts of the sheath betweenmembranes will be in tension, there being some bulging as shown. Tendonsmay be internal and/or external or draped as desired.

Further lateral displacement resisting means are illustrated in FIGS. 18and 19. Thus in FIG. 18 hook means 57 may comprise a ring 58 if desiredthrough which a tendon may be passed and a series of arms 60 having pins61 which may extend into wool bales. A similar construction is shown inFIG. 19 in which a disc 62 has serrations 63 and cracked out portions64, the cracked-out portions being engageable against faces of saycartons 65 and the serrations engaging such faces of cartons. Theserrations could be replaced by pins engaging recesses in the cartons orboxes. To provide the serrations the edges could be castellated. Lateralexpansion or buckling could also be resisted by wrapping spiralreinforcing around a unit.

Where the goods themselves cannot cope directly with concentrated loadsor heavy shear concentration due to supports, suspension means, tendondrape or other superimposed loads, concentrated load or sheardistributing means may comprise means or arrangements that spread theload or shear forces in the form of lateral compression into the load.

According to application, concentrated load and shear distributing meansmay be employed inside, or at the ends of the load comprising of meanssuch as for example shear panels, sheets, grids or aprons 42 (FIG. 1 thelatter used for example to distribute the concentrated load due todraping tendons in the tendon locating fixtures, which would beincorporated in such load and shear distributing means, into the form ofshear into the unit in lateral planes.

Other preferred forms may consist of panels, sheets, grids, providedwith shear transmitting means and reinforced according to the nature ofthe concentrated load, such means to cover part or whole of a unitslateral cross section for shear coverage. Such means may be combined ofcourse with lateral displacement resisting means and other means andwhenever the pressure distributing means is used as a support or as ameans of suspension, such means would also be combined with aconcentrated load or shear distributing means.

Tension maintaining means or tendon systems may consist of a highstrength rope or ropes, cable or cables, strand or strands, capable ofmaintaining substantially constant tension or adequate tensionregardless of the behavior of the goods within the transporting unit.

Tendons would have required elastic properties or be associated withmeans simulating such properties such as springs or similar devices.

Continuous tendon runs round or through the load several times inconjunction with pulleys, etc. Individual tendons may run internal orexternal to the load.

The invention can be particularly effective in conjunction with goodswhich are also to be compacted or compressed generally to reduce volumein transportation, provided the pressures are moderate or the goodsexhibit a marked hysteresis effect on release of compression, such asfor example wool, where the initial compression to achieve high densitywool is high but after relatively little relaxation and decreaseddensity a very large decrease in compression results, adequate tomaintain high density and within the range of normal prestressingrequirements. The advantages of combining this process are considerable.

The invention envisages the combination of:

a. Pressure distributing means b. Shear resisting means c. Lateraldisplacement resisting means d. Concentrated load or shear distributingmeans, and

e. Tensioning means.

Thus in FIGS. 20 to various combinations of these main means areillustrated. In each case, the reference letters to the main means aredirected to the parts which provide the various features.

The shear resisting means have been referred to earlier.

A further mode of operation is to pass a tendon or tendons interiorly ofthe load, that is to say with some of the discrete articles or packageson the outside of at least some of the tendons thus as shown in FIG. 31where a central tendon 65 is disposed between end plates 1 and of coursealternative or additional tendons 65a could be provided.

This figure also shows transverse rails which could be solid as shown at66 or of channel form as shown at 67 or other convenient shape.

These rails or channels would form a continuous rail or track when unitsare side coupled. This facilitates stacking of subsequent tiersparticularly if the supports of the units have wheels or retractablewheels to match track. Alternatively a transporting dolly may be used inrails. It is a feature of the method that subsequent tiers of units orcoupled units may cantilever over the preceding tiers, so that forexample, full use can be made of non perpendicular sides in someshipping.

As shown in FIG. 32 where units 68 are shown mounted in a ship 69 andcantilevered out to use available space.

The invention provides the following advantages:

1. the ability to crate large loads at lower cost, lower tare weight,lower space loss, lower upkeep and cleaning cost per ton of unit load.

2. components after use occupy a very small amount of space, and arelight, so that a plurality of such components may be coupled together toform large bulk loads by themselves, for return,

3. the load size of any one unit may be varied as required, by varyingthe length of the unit while components adjust to actual payload size,

4. units may be designed as modules of a larger load, the modules to besimply coupled or stressed by various means at the end frame, sideways,endways, or top or bottom, or combination of any of these, at any stageproviding economical flexible systems of loading break down, load buildup or changing of modular loads.

Such modular systems allow large loads for transportation, while at anystage provide a choice to a smaller but integrated load system withoutleaving bulky components behind after the load has been broken down.Such unit load system may be used, for example, where only smallerhandling gear is available.

5. load cohesion by controlled prestressing has two main features:

a. it gives virtually homogeneous units of greater structural stabilitywith a minimum of relative movement within the load,

b. it is independent of gravity, gravity decks or within wide margins,the position of the unit relative to the direction of gravity dependingon the application.

These give secondary features:

i. The prestressed units, much like solid blocks or containers in thisrespect, need a minimum of load binding means to support and enable morestable stacking arrangements generally.

ii. Due to absence of rubbing or sliding of the load units or bulkmaterials within the total unit, there is less damage and less kineticenergy losses or heat generation within the units,

iii. To the extent that the total surface area of the goods exposed toatmosphere is reduced in the prestressed aggregate, the heat exchangerate of the unit is affected accordingly, resulting for example in thereduction or elimination of insulation or refrigeration requirements ofrefrigerated goods during various stages of transpor tation,

iv. Contrary to the major conventional systems which depend on cohesionby gravity, prestressed units do not suffer from the same limitationswhen handled or used on slopes or in positions deviating considerablyfrom the horizontal level, (or even in all positions for a large numberof applications) and be exposed to considerable acceleration forceswithout the load cohesion or structural stability of the units beingsignificantly affected. This considerably increases the possibility andscope of handling means generally for internal and externaltransportation, and specifically increases the possibilities of economicuse of gravity for the moving or feeding of units along slopes or rails,e.g., monorails,

v. The units in a substantially horizontal position without (gravity)decks or other major obstructions on the top or bottom of the unit canmake the maximum economic use of gravity in both charging or discharginga unit.

This may, for example, be done in the case of charging a unit in avariety of positions with the aid of a load former or constructionswhich conform to the general shape of the load in part or whole duringthe load forming operation, with the load units or the bulk material fedin from the open top or sides by chutes hoppers or other means, by semior fully automated means according to the application. Discharging maybe performed either in one stacked block or assembled arrangement fromthe bottom of the unit, or into a special hopper, or the unit is movedinto a discharging former consisting of two sides and a bottom. Thelatter former is constructed so that a determined portion is open whenrequired. Thus, the load units or bulk units after stress, released inthe discharge former, may be discharged in loads or section with orwithout controlled output.

vi. The features in (iv) and (v) above, alone or in combination, allowmany internal handling systems to be put into effect particularlysystems based on sloping rails as above described, mostly gravity fed,and semi or fully continuous from inward goods to despatch which can befully integrated with the actual production process, or may be semi orfully automated.

I claim: 1. A method of preparing goods in the form of discrete articlesor packages with plane or substantially plane end faces fortransportation comprising assembling said articles or packages into aunit, placing pressure distributing means in a vertical plane at eachend of said unit, prestressing said pressure distributing means againsteach other about the discrete articles or packages by means of tendons,introducing lateral displacement resisting means between said articlesor packages, thereby prestressing said tendons to such a degree that theunit acts as a prestressed beam, and disposing shear resisting means atintervals along the length of the load parallel to the plane ofapplication of pressure by said pressure distributing means.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising increasing thefrictional coefiicient factor between areas of contact of said goods tothereby dispose said shear resisting means.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising positively lockingthe goods one to another by locking means selected from interlockingarrangements, rims, and linking means inserted between the goods tothereby dispose said shear resisting means.

4. A method of preparing free-flowing materials for transport comprisingthe steps of placing the free-flowing materials in a series ofcompartments, each compartment having a common wall with the nextcompartment, each compartment when filled being closed, applyingpressure distributing means to the series of compartments, connectingsaid pressure distributing means to each other by tendon means andapplying and maintaining tension by use of the tendon means to pull thepressure distributing means towards each other so as to apply anddistribute pressure over the goods whereby the goods are precompressedby the pressure causing the combination of apparatus and goods to behaveand act as a prestressed structural unit such as a prestressed beam withthe substantial bulk of the goods remaining under compression, and withthe tendons remaining under tension so as to remain structurally anddimensionally stable in normal use and at least within a normal ransgeof levels and positions of the combination. A method of preparing goodsin the form of discrete arucles or packages with plane or substantiallyplane end faces for transportation comprising assembling said articlesor packages into a unit, placing pressure distributing means in avertical plane at each end of said unit, prestressing said pressuredistributing means against each other about the discrete articles orpackages by means of tendons, introducing lateral displacement resistingmeans between said articles or packages, thereby prestressing saidtendons to such a degree that the unit acts as a prestressed beam, andsuitably disposing concentrated load shear distributing means todistribute concentrated load shear stresses.

1. A method of preparing goods in the form of discrete articles orpackages with plane or substantially plane end faces for transportationcomprising assembling said articles or packages into a unit, placingpressure distributing means in a vertical plane at each end of saidunit, prestressing said pressure distributing means against each othErabout the discrete articles or packages by means of tendons, introducinglateral displacement resisting means between said articles or packages,thereby prestressing said tendons to such a degree that the unit acts asa prestressed beam, and disposing shear resisting means at intervalsalong the length of the load parallel to the plane of application ofpressure by said pressure distributing means.
 2. A method as claimed inclaim 1 further comprising increasing the frictional coefficient factorbetween areas of contact of said goods to thereby dispose said shearresisting means.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprisingpositively locking the goods one to another by locking means selectedfrom interlocking arrangements, rims, and linking means inserted betweenthe goods to thereby dispose said shear resisting means.
 4. A method ofpreparing free-flowing materials for transport comprising the steps ofplacing the free-flowing materials in a series of compartments, eachcompartment having a common wall with the next compartment, eachcompartment when filled being closed, applying pressure distributingmeans to the series of compartments, connecting said pressuredistributing means to each other by tendon means and applying andmaintaining tension by use of the tendon means to pull the pressuredistributing means towards each other so as to apply and distributepressure over the goods whereby the goods are precompressed by thepressure causing the combination of apparatus and goods to behave andact as a prestressed structural unit such as a prestressed beam with thesubstantial bulk of the goods remaining under compression, and with thetendons remaining under tension so as to remain structurally anddimensionally stable in normal use and at least within a normal range oflevels and positions of the combination.
 5. A method of preparing goodsin the form of discrete articles or packages with plane or substantiallyplane end faces for transportation comprising assembling said articlesor packages into a unit, placing pressure distributing means in avertical plane at each end of said unit, prestressing said pressuredistributing means against each other about the discrete articles orpackages by means of tendons, introducing lateral displacement resistingmeans between said articles or packages, thereby prestressing saidtendons to such a degree that the unit acts as a prestressed beam, andsuitably disposing concentrated load shear distributing means todistribute concentrated load shear stresses.